It is a noun that means "the action of giving someone support, confidence or hope.
What a word so pregnant with meaning and rich with possibilities.It is able to lift a person out of the doldrums and give their day a different outcome.
Everyone can encourage someone else.They can be a family member, a person at work, a next door neighbour,a shopkeeper you see once a week or it can be someone you have never met that you sense may need a little love. A kind gesture can leave the recipient with the sense that the world is not such a bad place after all.
For some,a smile can make a person's day.We have so many and it costs nothing to give one away.
I am loving the idea of suspended coffees that is becoming popular. You buy your coffee and pay for another in advance. You pay it forward.
The list of ways to encourage is endless. It is as limited as your imagination.
I enjoy dashing off little Facebook posts or text messages to people to give them a boost.It lets them know someone is thinking of them at least and maybe even praying for them and just plain standing with them in solidarity through the darkness of their situation.
There is a beautiful saying that says " Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind."
I try to remember that saying when people are mean,grumpy or thoughtless. Shake it off and refuse to let it shape your day. Instead, purpose to love that person anyway and pray for their day to get brighter.
I can look back over decades of my life and remember times that I was in need of cheering up and other times I was in plain emotional dire straits and always there was someone sent to me as a gift to give me hope, support and confidence that tomorrow would dawn a new day and I would not always feel this way.
Sometimes the encouragement came in a letter, text, email,card or a phone call out of the blue, random flowers or a gift or a visit from someone.
One of my favourite parts of scripture (out of context) is-" And it came to pass."
I visualise the situation continuing on its merry way as it is not welcome to stay because it's only passing through.
Every person has a role to play in the lives of others.Even in the most challenging of times for us , individually, we can have such a sense of wellbeing when we look out of our situation and become centred on others.To give someone support and love , in the midst of your own trials is precious. It is virtuous and helps us to gain perspective.Navel gazing is counter productive to our equilibrium.To turn our thoughts to others changes our focus and gets us back engaged in life.
I remember important times in my life when a teacher, mentor or friend gave me the encouragement to reach out for more and it helped me to discover the road less travelled. The narrow road that has led me to this beautiful life.
I had a lovely visit today from a friend.We had a cuppa and talked of life and hopes of future things.It was encouraging.
It was unexpected.
It was unscripted and totally organic.
It made my day.
I would have to write a whole week of blogs to cover the amount of kindnesses and love shown to me by people who expect nothing in return.You know who you are and I am grateful for your persistence to love me and support me and give me hope.You remind me of the words of this quote " A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."
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